Hermitage Invited to Participate in Sustainable Events Program

NASHVILLE—A&M Meetings and Incentives recently announced that The Hermitage Hotel is among the five hotels in the nation it invited to participate in its new sustainable events program.

“From growing our own vegetables and raising our own beef to restoring and maintaining our historic building and supporting the Land Trust for Tennessee, sustainability is infused in The Hermitage Hotel,” said Janet Kurtz, director of sales and marketing. “We are deeply committed to preserving what is best about the South and southern hospitality, including the lush environment that makes our region so inviting. We are honored to be among the handful of hotels selected for this sustainable events program.”

A&M Meetings and Incentives seeks to meet three goals in inaugurating its sustainable events program: 1) to introduce clients to unique, socially responsible properties, 2) to plan amazing events that create positive social and environmental impacts in the community and 3) to develop a lasting relationship with the client, hotel and community that creates awareness for sustainability in the meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) industry.

A&M’s sustainable events program offers off-the-shelf, green meeting packages for each of the hotels in the program. The packages are designed to fit groups of various sizes in locations along the East Coast—from advisory boards and executive retreats to small meetings and incentive trips.

“The Hermitage Hotel and its relationship with the Land Trust for Tennessee make the hotel a prime example of a hotel that is dedicated to both the environment and the community and we are thrilled to partner with them,” said Melanie Pelouze, director of sales at A&M Meetings and Incentives.

Guests Can Donate to Land Trust

The Hermitage Hotel, which is more than 100 years old, is committed to running as sustainably as possible and preserving the region’s heritage by protecting the state’s historic and scenic landscapes through a relationship with The Land Trust for Tennessee. The hotel offers guests the opportunity to donate to the Trust $2 per night of their stay. To date, the program has raised more than $150,000. Also as part of this relationship, The Hermitage Hotel’s four-star restaurant, the Capitol Grille, created a substantial period garden using sustainable farming practices. The garden is located at Glen Leven, a historic 66-acre farm located just five miles from The Hermitage Hotel that is owned by the Land Trust for Tennessee.

The Capitol Grille sources its vegetables from the garden at The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Farm at Glen Leven. The restaurant also raised its own cattle at Glen Leven until last year when the demand grew too high. The increasing demand led to the purchase a second farm, Double H Farms, in 2012 with the goal to develop and increase the herd of grass-fed cattle in Nashville.

“We’re honored A&M Meetings and Incentives selected us for this partnership that complements our efforts” said Kurtz. “It’s our goal to focus the future of the hotel and restaurant on preserving the land through continuing to use sustainable farming practices as well as sourcing local products and amenities.”

Of the five hotels selected to participate in the A&M sustainable events program, The Hermitage Hotel is one of only two members of the Preferred Hotels Group, the other of which is The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, sister property of The Hermitage Hotel.